Legacy of Tipu Sultan: India's original tech innovator

The last hurdle to India's British domination

Even as Tipu Sultan's legacy weathers a political hailstorm in Karnataka, ET explores how the controversial ruler of Mysore was a tech innovator.

The 18th Century ruler -who was the last hurdle to the British's domination over South India -introduced ground-breaking changes to the economy and even created technology parks across his kingdom.

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Radical changes to the economy

On his 'Jayanti' today, ET looks back at the radical changes Tipu brought about and which shaped the economy of the region well into the modern era.

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Painted as a religious bigot

Iconoclast. Tyrant. Religious bigot. If this is the image the British painted of Tipu Sultan centuries ago, political groups of today are terming him a “fanatic", “opportunist", “rapist", “anti-Hindu" and “anti-Kannada."

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The Tiger of Mysore

Historians and researchers, on the other hand, regard the Tiger of Mysore as a secular, progressive king who was constantly on the lookout for the best global technology for his kingdom.

Records suggest that he developed industries, laid the foundation of the silk trade and encouraged foreign technology.

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Creating a market for Mysorean goods worldwide

Tipu established trading houses for Mysore products worldwide. Historians explain, he preferred to do cashless, barter transactions for two reasons -one was to create a market for Mysorean goods and workmen abroad and the other, more important reason, was to curtail the drain of wealth out of India, which British were notorious for.

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Tipu's economic strategy

One incident that highlights Tipu's economic strategy was a procurement deal with France in October 1788. When the French wanted to import pepper, sandalwood, cardamom, cotton yarns, gum and ivory , Tipu demanded that the goods be paid for by articles including cannons, ammunition, silk and woollen goods.

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Revolutionizing the silk cottage industry

Apart from eliminating middlemen in the collection of land revenue, Tipu Sultan also got experts from across the world to further the silk cottage industry that Mysore became famous for.

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A fan of world literature

Tipu Sultan's library was apparently filled with translations of world literature.

The `Tiger of Mysore' would make handwritten observations of foreign countries. Ships arriving at his port in Mangaluru would bring various gadgets like telescopes and barometers.